The Labour Parliamentary candidates for Hove and Brighton are pounding a treadmill rather than engaging with the real world.

In Letters (November 9) they proclaim that, if elected, they would set about encouraging local employers to pay a living wage.

They proclaim this as new. In fact, one of the first things the Green Party did three years ago, in a minority administration, was to pay council staff a living wage.

With the tremendous support of the Chamber of Commerce, this encouraged companies to appreciate the benefit of doing likewise.

Gratifyingly, 170 companies have seen the wisdom of this, and already 1,000 people are better off.

Labour candidates might have the grace to acknowledge this even if they could not applaud it.

Christopher Hawtree, Green Party Parliamentary Candidate, Hove and Portslade